Half to manoel j



(No Model.)

H. ROESKE.

ALARM LETTER BOX.

N. PETERS. Plwkmuunognphnr. washlngmn. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicEs HENRY ROESKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO MANUEL J. NASOIMEN'IO, OE SAME PLACE.

ALARM LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,735, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed February 28,1885, Serial No.157,337. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, HENRY RoEsxE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Letter-Boxes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specication and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front view of a letterbox embodying my invention. Fig. 2 repreresents a vertical section thereof in line fr as, Fig. l. Y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

My invention consists of a letter or mail box having the door of the'inlet connected with a bell or signal mechanism and an operating rod or handle, whereby the opening of said door operates the signal and thus directs attention to the letters or inail-matter dropped into the box, the invention being more especially designed for relieving theletter-carriers from visiting upper floors, numerous rooms,and different parts of a building in which deliveries are to be made, the operation of the signal announcing to the proper party the deposit of mail-matter in the box thereof. There a building requires several boxes, they are located in proximity to each other, so that a carrier can quickly announce to numerous parties the arrival and deposit of the mail in the boxes without calling on each of said parties.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a letter or mail box, the same having the usual opening or inlet,B, and a door, O, for removal of letters, Src.

D represents the door which closes the inlet B, the saine being properly pivoted to the box on the inside thereof and opening downward, as well known. Connected with the door D is a rod, E,whicli passes through and is guided in the top and bottom walls of the box A, the lower end of said rod being provided with a handle, F, and the upper end attached by suitable means to a bell or signal device, G.

H represents a spring connected with the rod E and a proper part of the box and employed both for restoring the rod to its normal position and closing the door D.

The signal device is located in a room or apartment in which it is desired to announce the delivery of letters, &o., and the box hung in an entry, hallway, &e., and where there are several floors, rooms, otces, Sto., in a building to be reached by the carrier a suitable number of boxes will be employed and l0- eated in proximity to each other, so that the carrier will not be required to visit each room, door, Sie.

It will be seen that when letters duc., are to be dropped or deposited in the box, the carrier pulls the rod E by means of the handle F, thus opening the door D and simultaneously and positively operating the bell or signal device G, whereby the party interested in the box has his attention directed to the action of the carrier, and he may visit the box and remove the contents thereof. Vheny the carrier lets go the handle F, the rod returns to its normal position, and, as the door is connected therewith, said door is closed, thus covering the inlet B, when, if desired, the bell or signal may be sounded instead of when the door D is opened, it being noticed that the spring H holds said door properly closed, its pressure being exerted on the rod E, and thus on said door, it also being noticed that the opening ofthe door to admit the mail causes the operation of the bell or signal, whereby attention is reliably directed to said act, as is evident, and where several boxes are employed the carrier is relieved of making deliveries in different rooms and various parts of a building.

The box,with its appurtenances,is also serv- I iceable for dwelling houses, as it may be readily connected with a door, gate, 85o., and have its bell located within the house, so as to avoid ringing of the bell proper, and4 yet direct attention to the visit of the carrier.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is f A' letter or mail box having a door for closing the inlet of the same, and a springpressed rod connected with said door, in oombination with a bell or alarm mechanism, said rod passing through the box, and having its spring adapted to both restore the rod to its normal position and close the door of the inlet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY ROESKE. Witnesses:

J oHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GEANT.

IOO 

